Preparing students and families to thrive in the gene age

Galton and the beginnings of Eugenics, James Watson

Description:

Interviewee: James Watson.
In the 19th century Francis Galton argued that genius and talents are inherited, but he had no idea about the mechanism of heredity. Here James Watson discusses the founding of eugenics and explores some archival materials remaining from the Eugenics Record Office at Cold Spring Harbor.
(DNAi Location: Chronicle > Threat of the unfit > Founders > Inherited genius?)

Transcript:

Galton believed that the differences between humans were inherited and he wrote a book about hereditary genius, and thought geniuses should marry other geniuses and have lots of children. And, but you know, there was no way of proving whether these ideas were right or wrong because Galton didn't understand the mechanism of inheritance.